A 48-YEAR-OLD woman from Chester who verbally assaulted two 12-year-old girls for walking on her land has been fined £180 and ordered to pay £430 costs, plus compensation.

Ruth Rowlands appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 5, having been found guilty after a trial to using threatening and abusive language with intent to cause alarm and distress.

The charge related to an incident that occurred on the morning of Saturday, April 13, 2019 when two 12-year-old girls, who were competing in the Cheshire Hike, run by Cheshire Scouts, walked on to land owned by Rowlands's partner and partner's father on Warrington Road, Mickle Trafford.

The children were both greeted by screams of abuse from Rowlands, who told them they were trespassing and threatened to get her gun out.

She also repeatedly swore at the girls and told them that it was a ‘good job they were wearing bright clothes’ as they would be able to see them when they had been squashed and killed by all the animals in the fields.

In Rowlands's defence, the court had heard other Scouts had also walked on the field that day and Rowlands prevented the 12-year-old girls from moving on to a 'dangerous' peat bog.

She had since complained to the scouting organisation regarding the organisation of the Cheshire Hike event.

Following the sentencing, Police Constable Robert Boulton said: “The victims in this case were both innocent young children taking part in a competition who accidentally crossed on to land owned by Rowlands.

“Rather than simply ask the girls to go back on to the footpath, she tore into them and verbally assaulted the pair.

“During the attack Rowlands even told the girls that it was a ‘good job’ they hadn’t gone into the next field as it was owned by a paedophile who would tie them up and do things to them.

“Both of the girls were left traumatised and physically shaken as a result of what she said and I welcome the fact that she has now been sentenced for her actions.”